As I've reported in previous blogs, I'm gradually familiarizing myself with Classical music and I'm grateful to report it has acquired a permanent residence in my musical landscape. Classical compositions now make up a respectable share of my IPod library and at least half of my work week is comprised of listening to Instant Encore playing through my work computer. It's a great resource which allows listeners to enjoy full pieces, not just thirty second samples. It also features numerous selections form our own Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra on its website.
Having noted this, I have to point out that a larger percentage of my musical library is dedicated to 80's music. It's a special treat for me that our upcoming Symphony on the Prairie concert will feature the music of Michael Jackson. I've been a fan of his since Thriller debuted while in sixth grade. I've included a picture of myself as a child with my Michael Jackson doll, a Christmas present from my family. I laugh now when I see this picture and my pairing of a ruffled dress shirt with those red parachute pants!
I was deeply saddened when Michael Jackson passed away last year. I was attending the Led Zeppelin show at White River State Park featuring our orchestra when the news broke. At the end of the evening, "Stairway to Heaven" was played and a special dedication was made to Michael Jackson's memory. It was a gift for me to be surrounded by family and friends listening to beautiful music as I reminisced about what his music meant to me over the years. My favorite MJ song is "Man in the Mirror," I still break out in goose bumps when it starts playing. I also love the music videos empasizing his incredible dancing abilities. I never learned how to properly execute a moonwalk, I'm sure the grass at Conner Prairie will hinder me from attempting it one more time. I will, however, certainly be dancing in my seat the entire show.
I'd like to introduce Bob Schultz, senior account director at Borshoff Strategic Communications, a fan of the ISO and a good buddy of mine. Bob recently told me he how much he and his family loved John Denver's music, which the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is performing this weekend in concerts at Marsh Symphony on the Prairie. I made him prove it by telling his story.
Ahhh, a Rocky Mountain High once again! My wife Diane and I can still remember when we heard the tragic news of John Denver’s death on Oct. 12, 1997. For us, it was the day the music died.
JD was much more that that folksy singer/songwriter with a goofy smile and twangy voice singing “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.” We were first introduced to the music of the man while working at CYO Camp in Brown County, Indiana back in the ‘80s. His music inspired me to take up guitar; to learn how to play “Eagle and The Hawk”; to fall in love. Later, when Diane was working on the Ft. Belknap Indian Reservation in Hays, MT, John Denver filmed his annual Christmas show there. Not too much later, “Annie’s Song” was played and sung by my Colorado and now-deceased brother Rick on Diane’s and my wedding day.
From then on, each time JD made an Indy visit, we’d gather our camp friends, head to Market Square Arena or Deer Creek and sing along to every song. Then, as our three kids were born – each was “given” their own JD tune that became their lullaby. Although his death has created a significant void, JD’s music survives. (In fact, our missionary friend Patrick says that “Country Roads” is played more in European and Asian countries than any other American song.)
So – we’ll be there, with our kids and friend this weekend – on the prairie – thanks to the incredibly talented Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the look-alike, sound-alike Jim Curry. We’ll be singing along, remembering days gone by and introducing true American classics to the next generation. And I’m so pleased to know that JD’s music is still alive and well at that same CYO Camp where our kids now go.
My name is Sarah and I attend Covenant Christian High School. Each year after Christmas break, students at my school participate in a two week experience called “J-term”, or two week internship. I love music and thought that the Indianapolis Symphony would be a great opportunity. For my two weeks, I was part of the Learning Community. There were many activities and projects that I participated in during these two weeks, like the Young People's Discovery Concert teacher workshops designed to help teachers prepare their students for concerts and assisting HR with paper filing. The teacher workshop was a brand new experience for me and I loved learning the different ways of presenting classical music to groups of elementary level students.
I was able to sit in on an ISO rehearsal and listen to the orchestra practice. Also, I attended a Happy Hour Concert planning meeting for the upcoming January event. It was interesting hearing all of the work that had been put into the event, and the work that still had to be done. Also, I was able to see the new promotional video for these concerts.
I attended a Coffee Concert and it was neat listening to the orchestra perform the songs that I heard them practice the day before. Also, before the Coffee Concert I served coffee and tea to patrons. It was fun and fascinating talking to the different people attending the concert. That ended my first week at the ISO, and I could not wait for the next week.
On Tuesday of my second week, I helped the HR department again with some filing. I saw more paper than I have ever seen in most of my life! It was interesting how many papers and documents go through this department.
This week I was able to eat lunch with Becky, the principal piccolo player in the orchestra. It was fun hearing some of her stories and talk about flutes! Then I said bye and continued with my work in the Learning Community - mainly creating a database of orchestra music for the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra program.
Next came Friday, my last day at the ISO. Today there was a Coffee Pops Concert that I was able to enjoy. I loved this concert and had a great time listening to it.
Well, that was my J-term experience at the ISO. I could not have hoped for a better internship. I learned many things about the business behind the orchestra on stage. I was also able to meet new people and get to know them better. I am glad that I had this opportunity to spend my two weeks with the ISO!
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Children's Bureau have partnered to bring holiday joy to Indiana families facing financial hardship this season. Our campaign for donors to purchase $10 Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration tickets for those in need is off to a great start--more than 50 tickets have been distributed to families so far. There's still time -- go here to learn how to can donate the gift of Yuletide.
In the meantime, read those heartwarming stories of families receiving holiday gifts from Children's Bureau case manager, Angela Floyd.
The mother is diagnosed with MS, and the seven year old boy is diagnosed with CP, and is wheelchair bound. The mother moved to Indianapolis from Northern Indiana, so that they could be closer to the hospital and closer to her son’s doctors. They currently have no friends or family in Indianapolis.
Mother’s only wish for Christmas is to have wheelchair ramps put in, so she will be able to get her son in and out of the house safely. Right now her fiancé carries her son in and out of the house, but he will not be able to do that for much longer, seeing as how the son is getting bigger.
This caseworker and the family called numerous agencies to see about getting the wheelchair ramps put in, but due to the fact that the mother is renting her house, nobody was able to help. This caseworker spoke to the Volunteer Department at Children's Bureau and they suggested the caseworker place the family on Hope for the Holidays website and ask for a licensed bonded contractor to do the work. The caseworker placed the family on the site and with in a matter of days, a very generous person sponsored this family. The caseworker as well as the family were both so excited to hear this family had been sponsored for Christmas.
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Children's Bureau have partnered to bring holiday joy to Indiana families facing financial hardship this season. Our campaign for donors to purchase $10 Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration tickets for those in need is off to a great start--more than 50 tickets have been distributed to families so far. There's still time -- go here to learn how to can donate the gift of Yuletide.
In the meantime, read those heartwarming stories of families receiving holiday gifts from Children's Bureau case manager, Rachel Hughes.
First Christmas Stories by Rachel Hughes, Children's Bureau
A few Christmas’ ago, we had a 12 year old boy. His prior living conditions and relationship with his biological mother was horrible. On Christmas morning, he didn’t have a visit or pass and he was one of a few kids that had no one to see him. He woke up early and staff let him open up a few presents. This boy was just so excited to have presents. He wasn’t sure when the last time was that he had gifts on Christmas. It didn’t matter if it was a toy, socks, clothes or underwear, he was so grateful and appreciated everything he received. After every package, he thanked everyone and his smile was so big. He thanked everyone he saw for him getting presents (even if they weren’t involved) and wrote a good thank you letter which was a struggle for him due to not having enough space to write his note. Behaviorally, this kid was a challenge but that Christmas he was grateful, compliant and happy.
Last year, we had a little girl whose house caught on fire. She lost all of her toys and clothing. More than anything else, she wanted a Bratz head doll to replace the one she lost in the fire. On Christmas morning when she saw the Bratz doll, she was so happy. It was like a piece of her life before the fire was given back to her.
We had an 8 year old girl that was afraid that Santa wouldn’t be able to find her since her address had changed many times since last Christmas. We had the security officer call pretending to be Santa and telling her that he knew where she was and what one of her presents was. She was so excited and was relieved that even though she was in a placement, Santa could still find her. It gave her a reassurance that Christmas was still going to be okay even though she wasn’t placed in a home or with a family for Christmas.
Working with children in the system is very hard. Success is not high but staff still fights for every kid to have had at least one success while in placement. We have had many children learn to read while here even though they were 15 or so. We’ve had kids learn better coping skills than hurting themselves or others. The most valuable lesson most learn while they are here is that they are worth something. No matter what they have been told, they are valuable. They are important. They mean something. They don’t need to define themselves through others or behaviors. Who they are is enough. They don’t need their family to say they are worth something. They don’t need a boy or a girl to make them feel good about themselves. They can achieve and have a future no matter what their past has been.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a pause is worth a thousand notes.
There's something almost magical about the way that perfectly placed moment of silence can stop us dead in our tracks and make us yearn that much more for the music we're about to hear.
My favorite pause in music occurs right before the final iteration of the theme in the "Great Gate of Kiev" from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. This swaggering theme makes its final appearance after a a flurry of furious notes in the strings build up a well of tension. That brief moment of relief has a way of just capturing all that nervous energy and transforming the final turn of the main theme into the most exhilarating and empowering melody you've ever heard.
While a great composer can write the perfect pause, it still requires a gifted conductor to pull it off with devastating effect.
The best I've ever heard that Mussorgsky pause performed is in a recording by Eduardo Mata and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Mata was a dashing and eclectic conductor who brought a unique, but always intriguing, vision to everything he conducted. (Unfortunately, his life was cut short in a tragic plane crash sixteen years ago.) I can't find a mp3 of that recording to post here because it's out of print, but there are a few copies available through Amazon.com.
For more great examples of the use of silence in music, check out this article by the always entertaining Jan Swafford at Slate.com. The first example in Jan's article is perhaps the most famous pause in music - the pause at the end of the "Hallelujah" Chorus from Handel's Messiah. But don't take Jan's word for it. Hear that moment live. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs Handel's Messiah on December 20 at Clowes Memorial Hall, the second of our two Christmas concerts on the classical side.
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As I've reported in previous blogs, I'm gradually familiarizing myself with Classical music and I'm grateful to report it has acquired a permanent residence in my musical landscape. Classical compositions now make up a respectable share of my IPod library and at least half of my work week is comprised of listening to Instant Encore playing through my work computer. It's a great resource which allows listeners to enjoy full pieces, not just thirty second samples. It also features numerous selections form our own Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra on its website. 
I'd like to introduce Bob Schultz, senior account director at Borshoff Strategic Communications, a fan of the ISO and a good buddy of mine. Bob recently told me he how much he and his family loved John Denver's music, which the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is performing this weekend in concerts at Marsh 
My name is Sarah and I attend Covenant Christian High School. Each year after Christmas break, students at my school participate in a two week experience called “J-term”, or two week internship. I love music and thought that the Indianapolis Symphony would be a great opportunity. For my two weeks, I was part of the Learning Community. There were many activities and projects that I participated in during these two weeks, like the Young People's Discovery Concert teacher workshops designed to help teachers prepare their students for concerts and assisting HR with paper filing. The teacher workshop was a brand new experience for me and I loved learning the different ways of presenting classical music to groups of elementary level students. 
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a pause is worth a thousand notes. 
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